Weight actuated flowing device



April 7, 1942. A. BOYNTON WEIGHT ACTUATED FLOWING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l VEN TOR,

ALEXANDER BOYNTON, 14 W BY m Filed D80. 8, 1939 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 7, 1942 WEIGHT ACTUATED FLOWING DEVICE Alexander Boynton, San Antonio, Tex. 'Application December 8, 1939, Serial No. 308,313

6 Claims. (or. 137-111) My invention relates to stage lift flowing devices for wells employing aeration as the eduction means;

The principal object is to-start wells at comparatively low pressures and to flow them by stages at comparatively low pressures and low gas-oil ratios.

Other objects are: (1) to employ the weight of the well liquid to open the valve; (2) to employ a relatively powerful force in operating a comparatively small valve; (3). to provide a valve mechanism which can be adjusted to operate at different forces by changing only the value of a contained pressure fluid which will manifest only slight urge to escape while subjected to great pressures from without; and (4) to automatically regulate the inflow of pressure fluid to the well liquid according to the load by means of a valve mechanism wherein the valve is withdrawn from the path of abrasives during the flowing opera- Fig. 6 is a side view of the device shown in I Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 isa longitudinal section of the second modified form of the invention, being adapted for tubing flow.

Fig. 8 is a partial longitudinal section of a third modified form, being adapted for casing flow.

Fig. 9 is a cross section on the line 9--9, Figs. 8 and 9.

Similar characters are employed to refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In all forms of this invention, the expansive force of pressure fluid confined within the chamher 211 constitutes the valve closing force; while tubing G, Fig. 1, has the passage IQ of the same size and. in alignment with the tubing passage. The upper shell Ic of the body I is formed below the upper sloping surface la. The lower shell Id, having the lower sloping end Ib, is aligned with the upper shell Ic, both shells being adapted to closely receive the tube 2 parallel with the body I, the slight clearance in between the body and the tube being for manufacturing convenience.

The parallel ribs Ida, Figs. 4 and 6, having side openings for the solders or welds 2e and 2/ as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, are formed with a trough between them adapted to receive the tube 2 for slightly more than half of its diameter. This tube, having its upper end hermetically closed by the plug 2a and the weld 2b, may be secured within the shells I0 and Id, by the solder the pressure of the well liquid upstanding in the eduction tube, acting upon the nether side of the In Fig. 2, the body I, which may be a steel casting adapted to be threadedly connected into the or welds 26, Figs. 4 and 6, and 2 Figs. 5 and 6,

with the chamber 2m, ;are in alignment and sealed against leakage through the marginal clearance Ih between the members I and 2 by the weld or solder 2e, Fig. 4. The lateral opening If in the body I and the lateral opening 2k in the tube 2 are aligned similarly and likewise made leakproof by the weld or solder 2f, Fig. 5.-

The lateral opening 210 has communication with the bore I60 via the lateral openings Iila, the annular spaces I91) and I90, and the lateral opening Mb. 3

The weld or solder 2f maybe employed to more firmly secure and. complete the engagement between the shells I0 and Id and the tube 2. The lateral opening 21 is opposite the annular recess me which recess has communication with the lateral openings Itd, the annular tapered space Ito, and the central bore I60.

The piston base II has threaded engagement over the lower end of the assembling rod 3 and over the upper end of the valve rod I2 which rod is closely slidable within the packing I5, the gland bushing I7, and the central bore I60. The member 8 has an annular flange 3a with the openings 30 adapted to transmit pressure from the chamber M to within the U cup d and expand it against the tube 2. This cup may be of leather or any other tough, pliable substance; and may be of any other suitable'form, such as a ring or series of rings which may be metallic or a combination of alternating metal and fabric. The annular shoulder 3b engages the gland ring 6 at proper distance from the flange 3a to position' the cup 4 exactly between the members 3a and 5, as appears in Figs. 2, 3, '7, and. 8. The packing 6, engaged between the gland rings and I and the packing I 0, engaged between the gland ring 9 and the upper surface of the annular flange proximate the lower end of the member I I, are adapted to be compressed and urged against the tube 2 by the force or the coiled spring 8,

the tube 2, excepting the spring 8, which has free clearance within that tube and also excepting the valve rod I2, which is closely slidable within the bore I6c.

The diameter of the movable piston may be such as one to one and one-half inches, while the valve rod I2 may have a diameter such as to inch. This ratio between the diameters of the actuated by much greater force, resulting in more positive action than if the valve were actuated by a force acting'up'on the same area as that of the valve,.as is now the common practice.

A valve positioning member I3, having the central tubular appendage I3a adapted to separate the packings It and I5, and to be received within an annular recess within the upper end of the member I5,'may be pressed into the tube 2 and gas, under the assumed pressure of pounds per square inch. The lower end of this chamber may contain a liquid lubricant 2g such as neats foot oil or glycerine, which will condition and preserve the U cup or packing under it, and a chemical substance 2g, such as sulphur dioxide casinghead gasoline, carbon tetrachloride, ether, etc., adapted to give off gas at and below the pressure'of ten pounds per square inch, in order to hold a constant pressure in the chamber 2d. The valves in all-forms of the device are closed normally by. the resilient force of the pressure fluid in the chamber 2d, as appears in Figs. 2, 3, '7,

. and 8.

valve rod and the piston will cause the valve to be landed upon th slight annular shoulder 20. The

lower end of the member Ii lands centrally upon the upper end of the member I3. This contact limits the downward travel of the valve rod I2, as is apparent.

The packing M is adapted to engage closely with the tube 2, and the packing I 5 is adapted .to engage closely with the rod I2, by th force of the plug 22, having threaded engagement within the lower extremity of the tube 2. This force is transmitted to the packing I5 by the gland II .urged upwardly by an annular shoulder within the member I6 immediately over the annular space within the tapered bore IGa. The packing l8, engaged between the member I6 and th upper end of the gland sleeve I9, and the packing 20, engaged between the lower end of the member I9 and the gland '.ing 2 I, are adapted to receive and transmit the force of the plug 22 to both packings I4 and I5.- It will be understood that the members I9 and 2| are 'slidable within the tube 2 and over the lower extension of the member I8, around thelower end of which discharge'line M for casing flow will be considthe tubular portion of the plug ,22 has slight clearance.

The packing I8- preveritsany leakage of pressure fluid out of the annular chamber I6e between the tube 2 and the member I6. The packing 20 prevents pressure fluid in the annular space S, Fig. 1, from entering the device between the tube 2 and the plug 22, the gland ring 2|, and the lower enlarged end of the member I9, as apparent in Fig. 2. The packings I4 and I5 pre vent the upward escape or pressure fluid out of the annular space Iie between the member I3 and the tube 2.

The chamber 2d will be assumed to contain pressure fluid, such as compressed air or other If it be assumed that the chamber 2d is five inches long and has within it air or gas under ten pounds per square inch of pressure, then every tim that pressure is doubled within the chamber 2m under the piston assembly, the piston will rise one-half the distance which was between the liquid and the top plate before the pressure was doubled. It follows that at twenty pounds in the chamber 2m, distance between the chemical substance 2g and the top plate will be two and one-half inches. At forty pounds under the piston this distance will be one and one-quarter inches; and so on, until, at great pressures, th distance between the chemical 2g and the top plate ultimately will become very slight. The length of the chamber 2d is such thatv the tapered lower end of the valve rod I2 will never be raised within the packing I4.

Unlike the valve action in differential devices, this device will have more valves open as the upstanding liquid column is lengthened by increasing the pressure fluid value to embrace more devices within the upstanding column; The value of the pressure fluid, therefore, will effect increasingly the rate of liquid expulsion as the pressure fluid force is increased.

It is also apparent that different devices may be adjusted to open their valves at different forces by merely changing the value of the pres sure field within the chamber 2d, or by D- viding the spring 21, as in Fig. 7.

The devices I illustrated in Fig. 2 will be conployed to form a hermetic seal between the casing F and the tubing G suspended centrally of the annular space S. The nipple H, having lateral openings .Ha, may be employed'to connect the tubing to the anchor string J extending to the bottom ofthe well R.

The extension line Ga may extend to a flow tank. The pipeline L will be assumed to be connected with a source 01' pressure fluid, and the ered closed during the tubing flow. The gun perforations P admit the contents of the producing formation Q into the well. i

The expulsion oi liquid from the well will be eduction conduit, the tubing, preferably will be of larger diameter in the upper regions of the well than that employed below. The well liquid will be assumed to be standing in both the tubing and the casing at the level indicated at A when pressure fluid is turned out or the line L into the annular space S. Theliquid level in the annuin the tubing to C where the upstanding column in the tubing will balance against the force of the pressure fluid within the space S.

Pressure fluid willbe discharged into the upstanding liquid column by the device next to its base in the following manner: Well liquid in the tubing will enter the chamber 2m via the openings in registration Ie and 2h and exert pressure under the movable valve assembly further to' compress the air or gas within the chamber 2d,

until, at the assumed pressure of 200 pounds per square inch within the chamber 2m, the air or gas within the chamber 2d will be compressed the member I! at all times when there is no liquid pressure opposite the device in the tubing G.

This chamber pressure of ten pounds'per square inch is also considered ample to act upon the U Pressure fluid from the annular space S then will enter the upstanding liquid column'in the tubing through the device, the path of this travel being via the opening 21, the annular recess l6e, the lateral opening ltd, the tapered bore i6a, the straight central bore I60, the lateral opening lGb, the inner annular space i9b, the openings Isa, the outer annular space I90, and the openings in registration 2k, and If, in the order named.

The packings l0 and I! are for the evident purpose of preventing any of the pressure fluid from leaking by the member l3 into the chamber 2m and escaping thence into the tubing; instead of taking the proper path above stated.

It is apparent that the valve rod l2, by reason of its close sliding fit within the untapered central bore, l6c, will close that bore and not permit any flow of pressure fluid into the upstanding liquid column in the tubing until the lower end l2a oi this rod is'raised to within the tapered bore lGa. This bore, which enlarges toward the top, manifestly, will admit progressively more pressure fluid through the device as the upstanding liquid column elongates and consequently exerts more pressure under the piston assembly. due to increasing pressure within the annular space S.

The flow of pressure fluid between the valve rod I 2 and the tapered bore l6a can be made automatically self-adjusting in proportion to the load by properly varying the diameter and taper ot the taperedbore l6a. This bore may have its diameter increased more rapidly from the bottom upward by forming it into a trumpet shape. Such a bore, of course, would provide forja slower increase of the pressure fluid flow as the rod I2 rises than would result from a straight taper of this bore. Under some well conditions, such a flared taper of the bore lGa will be found desirable. v

The openings governing the admission of pressure fluid through the devices may be, by way of example, such as the equivalent of a circular opening of from A; to A inch diameter.

It is apparent that all devices at orbelow the level where the liquid in the tubing exerts the assumed pressure of 200 pounds per square inch will be wide open, and that the valves in the decup or packing 4 through the openings 30 for the purpose of expanding the same against the tube 2 and thereby retaining the pressure fluid within the chamber 2d during times when the device is inoperative.

The lubricant 29 will further tend to prevent the escape of the pressure fluid within the charm ber M by keepingthe U cup 4 lubricated and at the same time interposing a liquid barrier between the cup and the gaseous pressure fluid. within the chamber 2d, said lubricant being less apt to escape by the cup than the gas above it.

It is' known that gas will be gradually absorbed by well liquid coming in contact with it. The lubricant 2g interposed between the well liquid and the chemical 2g and the gas in the chamber M will prevent such absorption in the event that well liquid should permeate the U cup or packing 4.

It, in the course of time, some of the pressure fluid within the chamber 2d should escape, the

chemical 2 will give all enough gas to hold the property of .this chemical to give offgas at pressures of less than ten pounds compression and to retain its gas at higher pressures.

The high pressures frequently obtaining within oil wells, especially deep ones, will not cause intrusion of well gas within the chamber 2d, because the pressures obtaining within and without this chamber will always be within ten pounds of each other. With the assumed normal ten pounds ofpressure within the chamber 2d and no pressure within the chamber 2m beneath the piston assembly, then if the pressure in the chamber 2m be increasedto 10,000 pounds, the pressure within the chamber 2d will be 10,010

, pounds. a sustained diiierential of 10 pounds.

ber id is constantly urging this valve rod to its I valve closing position within the bore I when the lower end of the rod I! will be at I2a; while the pressure of the upstanding column of well liquid acting under the movable assembly is constantly tending to lift the movable assembly until, at a pre-determined force exerted by the upstanding column, the lower end of the rod l2 will move to the open position of the valve at Ma.

It should be further observed that, unlike all devices operated by the diflerential, the pressure fluid never contacts the valve operating means in the device but works by indirection only in causing the upstanding column, the force of which controls the valve movements.

The force exerted by the upstanding column v is variable, depending upon the place in this column where it is exerted, while the force within the chamber 2d varies in the same manner. The only constant force is the pressure fluid placed within the chamber 2d when the device is assembled. I

In Figs. 2 and 7 it is apparent that the rod 12 will act as a check valve to prevent drainage out of the tubing back through the device at conclusion of'the flowing operation.

In Fig. 3, which illustrates the adaptation of the device in Fig. 2 to casing flow through the annular space S, it will be understood that these smaller than that employed for tubing flow, and, preferably, should be all of one size.

To flow the well through the casing, the pressure fluid pipe line L will be removed and replaced by a plug in the casing head and the flow line M will be open. The well liquid in both the casing and the tubing will be assumed to be standing at the level A. Pressure fluid of proper value now will be admitted into the tubing (3 through the line Ga. will become depressed to D and will rise in the annular space S in balance against the pressure fluid in the tubing, resulting in the upstanding liquid column in the casing extending from D to E. The device next above the base of the upstanding column at D in the space S will be open and all devices-will function as previously explained for the tubing flow, except that the force actuating the movable piston assembly will umn in the casing, and the pressure fluid will pass through the device into the tubing via the lateral openings I7, 27', the annular space I6e, the lateral opening I6d, the central tapered bore Ita, the central straight bore I6c, the central bore 2411, the lateral openings Mb, the annular recess 24c, and the lateral opening Ik through the lower shell Id and the tube 2, in the order named.

The lower end of the valve rod I2aa in Fig. 3 is shown tapered farther than the end I2a in Fig. 2 in order to co-act with the tapered bore I6a so as to admit more pressure fluid to pass through this bore in the upper position of the valve rod indicated at I2aa than would pass if the .end were tapered for a shorter distance. This arrangement provides that more pressure fluid will pass through the device during casing flow, which requires more gas, than will pass through it during tubing flow.

The gland ring 23 in Fig. 3 transmits the force of the plug 24 to the packing I8 for the evident purpose of preventing leakage of pressure fluid from the annular recess I6e into the opening 24b between the tube 2 and the member I6. 7

It will be understood that the slight marginal opening between the members I and 2 in Fig. 3, at and around the aligned openings I7 and 27', is hermetically closed by a weld 2e similar to the weld 2c in Fig. 4. The weld 2f in Fig. is omitted as unnecessary in Fig. 3.

The liquid in the tubing aavaaao is engaged over a slight upstanding extension 31; above the flange 3a of the member 8A. The spring 21 is thus centrally held from contacting and possibly scoring the tube 2. The U cup or packing 4A, having its outer surface engaged with the tube 2, is otherwise housed by the cup housing ring 1A and the gland housing sleeve 6A, having threaded connection over the member 3A.

This form of the invention will be installed and operated as was explained in connection with Fig. 2. The pressure of well liquid in the upstanding column in the tubing enters the chamber 2m through the lateral opening 211. and raises the piston assembly with the connected valve rod I2 until, at a pre-determined pressure, the valve rod extremity I2aa will rise to its dotted position at I2aa'. The path of pressure fluid into the upstanding liquid column in the tubing then will be .via the lateral opening 27', the annular recess l6e, the lateral openings I6d, the annular space I6 the central bore I6c, the central bore 24a, the lateral openings 24b, the annular recess 24c, and the opening 25b, in the order named.

The spring 21 serves to increase the resistance to upward movement of the movable piston assembly, while the U cup or packing 4A will expand and prevent fluid from. without from intruding into the chamber M if this spring, at any time, should offer enough resistance to invite such intrusion. To prevent this, the expansive force of the spring 21 should never exceed the expansive force of the pressure fluid confined within the chamber 2d; Manifestly, the pressure fluid within the chamber 2d, aided by the spring 21, will cause the valve rod 42 to rise The construction and operation of the device in Fig; 3 except as otherwise stated, will be understood as being the same as in Fig. 2.

In the second modified form, adapted for tubing flow illustrated in Fig. 7, the tube 2 is secured within the coupling body IA by having the boss 26a, integral with the plug 26, secured to the body by the. weld 26b. The tube 2 is further secured to the body IA by the nipple 25, and by the welds 125a and 250.

The upper end of the tube 2 is shown hermetically closed by the plug 26 and the weld 260. The annular space I61 corresponds in purpose to the tapered bore I6a in Figs. 2 and 3.

The coiled spring 21, installed under some compression, has its upper end of reduced diameter engaged over the pin-like boss or extension 26a integral with and depending centrally from the plug 26. The lower end of this tapered spring and open the pressure fluid passage through the bore I6c at greater well fluid pressure than would be required to open the passage if the spring were not employed.

The tapered lower end I2aa of the valve rod is adapted to govern the inflow of pressure fluid by its varying clearances within the lower end of the annular space If. These clearances, manifestly, increase progressively as the rod I2 rises after its tapered end enters the lower end of the chamber I6f.

Otherwise than stated, the action of the device illustrated in Fig. 7 is so similar in construction and operation to the mechanism in Fig. 2, as to require no further explanation.

In Fig. 8, the construction shown in Fig. 7 for tubing flow is adapted to casing flow, this adaptation being mainly accomplished by substituting the opening 26c in Fig. 8 for the opening Zn in Fig. 7. To accomplish this slight change, the short nipple 28 is secured within the shell of the tube 2 by the weld 28b, and secured within the body IA by the weld 28a. The coiled spring 21, the U cup 4A, and the boss 26a are omitted in Fig. 8, resulting in the movable valve assembly being identical with that shown in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 8, the path of the pressure fluid out of the tubing and into the casing is via the lateral opening 29', the annular recess I6e, the lateral openings IS-d, the annular space I6f, the central bores I60 and 24a, the lateral openings 24b, the annular recess flc, and the opening 25b, in the order named.

Otherwise than stated, the device illustrated in Fig. 8 is the same in construction and operation as' the mechanism'in Fig. 7.

In all forms of this invention, except in Fig. 7,

the movable piston assembly between the pressure fluid within the chamber 2d and the upstanding well liquid in the eduction tube may be said to constitute a pneumatic scale adapted to weigh the load and admit lifting energy in proportion thereto. In Fig. 7 the scale,.of course, becomes a combination pneumatic and spring weighing force.

It is apparent that extremely low starting andoperating pressures may be employed, because the upstanding column ofany given length may be charged with pressure fluid at any desired distance from its top or base by changing the value of the pressurefluid within the chamber 2d, by changing the length of the rod [2, by changing the length of the tapered bore lta in Figs. 2 and 3, by changing the length of the an nular space MI in Figs. 7 and 8, or by employing 'a spring such as the one indicated at 2'| in Fig. 7. Shortening the rods i2 will hasten the valve opening, and vice versa. Lengthening the tapered bore Mia and the annular space if will, likewise, hasten the valve opening, and vice versa. The invention as herein illustrated and described is manifestly subject to many changes in construction and arrangement of parts which will remain within the scope and purpose of the stated objects and appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. Well flowing apparatus including a tubula valve body, a passage through the wall of said body, a valve in said passage, a cylindrical chamher in alignment with said valve and closed at its upper end, a piston in said chamber and attached to the valve, a lubricant in the bottom of said chamber above the piston, and a compressible fluid in the chamber above said fluid, there being a passage to the interior of the chamber below the piston.

2. Well flowing apparatus including a tubular valve body, a passage through the wall of said 3. Well flowing apparatus including a valvebody, a passage through the. wall of said body, a

.valve in said passage, a sealed chamber contain- Gil 4. Well flowing apparatus including a valve body, a passage through the wall of said body, a chamber in the wall of the body, a piston in said chamber, a valve positioning member in the chamber below said piston, a compressible fluid under pressure in the chamber above said piston, means for admitting pressure fluid to the nether side of said piston and to said passage, a downwardly converging bore in said pas- .sage below the piston, and a valve member in said bore and movable with said piston to control the flow of pressure fluid through the passage. h

5. Well flowing apparatus including a valve body, a passage through the wall of said body, a chamber in the wall of the body, said chamber being closed at its upper'end, a piston in said chamber, a valve positioning member for said piston adapted to limit the downward position of the piston, a compressible fluid within the chamber above the piston, a passage from the interior of the'body tube to the nether side of the piston, 'a central bore in the chamber below the piston, there being an enlargement in the bore intermediate its ends, said enlargement constituting a portion of said passage, and a tapered valve attached to the piston and movable in said bore to control the flow of fluid through the passage.

6. A well flowing device comprising a valve body having a, chamber in the wall thereof, a piston in said chamber in spaced relation with the upper end thereof, a compressible fluid in th chamber above the piston and at a predetermined pressure when the piston is in its lowermost position, there being a passage to the interior of the chamber beneath the piston, a central bore in the chamber below the piston, a valve member attached to said piston and extending into said bore, and passages in the wall of the-chamber from the opposite ends of said bore to the interior and exterior of the valve body.

ALEXANDER BOYNTON. 

